How to Choose Between Gimp Vs. Photoshop

Technology inspires passionate debates over which tool is the best for a job. In the 1950s, there were heated arguments over pocket watch vs. wristwatch. More recently, raging deliberations of Mac vs. PC. continue. The question of Photoshop vs. Gimp is no different. Thousands of people post to forums why they chose one over the other. Deciding which software program is best for you is a personal decision.

Things You'll Need

• A Computer
• Internet Access

Instructions

1. Evaluate how you plan to use the software to decide if you need something as powerful as either Photoshop or Gimp. If you want something for resizing photos from your digital camera and removing the occasional red eye, then these applications may not be right for you because they offer too many options. However, if you plan to do photo manipulation, graphic arts or graphic design, then these powerful applications are what you need.

2. Find out if your computer hardware and software are compatible with both applications. Navigate to Adobe's website and check the system requirements for the latest version of Photoshop. Navigate to Gimp's website and check the requirements for the latest version of Gimp. If your computer is not compatible with either application, you need to upgrade or try to find a different graphics application. If it is compatible with only one of them, then your decision has been made for you, unless you are willing to upgrade.

3. Determine what you are going to do with the results of your work. If you are creating graphics for the Web, both applications work just fine. When creating graphics for print or starting your own design business where you need to do critical color work for clients, you need the CMYK color mode that printers require; Photoshop is the better choice. Gimp has some CMYK support, but not to the same degree as Photoshop, and it has to be downloaded separately. If you are starting your own print-on-demand shop at CafePress or Zazzle, Gimp and Photoshop both work well since they both support the RGB color images these websites require for printing your designs.

4. Choose between spending more time or more money. One of the biggest reasons people choose Gimp over Photoshop is that Gimp is free and Photoshop costs hundreds of dollars. Gimp can perform many of the digital effects, editing and art that Photoshop can do, but Photoshop does them faster. Gimp may require three steps to perform a task that Photoshop does in one. Many of the advanced features installed in Photoshop exist for Gimp, but you must download and install them separately.

5. Decide which level of technical support you need. If you have decent Web search skills, Photoshop offers technical support from Adobe, making finding help easy. Gimp is open source software so there is no single source for technical support. If something goes wrong, you search the web for a solution.

6. Try them both. Download and install the free trial version of Photoshop and the latest version of Gimp. Open Photoshop and navigate to a website of tutorials for that application. Pick a tutorial and follow it. Keep notes on features you liked or found easy or hard. Do the same thing with Gimp.

Tips & Warnings

• Take some time to use each application to see which one you like better.

References

• Adobe: Adobe Photoshop CS5
• Gimp: Gimp 2.6

Resources

• Psdtuts+: Effects Tutorials
• Gimp Tutorials.net